We have all seen statutory warnings about how alcohol injurious to health, but were you aware that it can potentially save lives? This particular example might intrigue you.
Dilip Kumar, 30, who works in a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit at west Delhi’s Moti Nagar, accidentally inhaled toxic methanol fumes. The side effects of the exposure was severe, causing partial loss of vision and vital parameters like blood pressure, kidney and liver function were starting to fail.
While basic medical aid failed, Dilip’s colleagues rushed him to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. The doctors administered him a small quantity of rum to neutralize the toxicity caused by methanol, along hemodialysis and other supportive treatment. He was administered 30ml of rum every six hours for two days as part of his treatment through the feeding tube.
Speaking to Times of India , Dr Atul Gogia, senior consultant, internal medicine at SGRH , said , “Rum has 40% alcohol or ethanol content which has a chemical structure similar to methanol. It occupies the receptors where methanol metabolizes into harmful formaldehyde thus reducing the toxicity”.
“I never had alcohol in life. But when my family and doctors told me that it was alcohol that helped save my eyesight and life, it surprised me,” said Dilip
“There are no severe symptoms but I do not feel healthy either. I still have problems seeing from one of the eyes. But at least I am alive,” he added.
